More Time For Exchange Decision

It could be next month before Governor Earl Ray Tomblin makes a decision about what West Virginia will do when it comes to a requirement of the Affordable Care Act.

States like West Virginia had originally had until this past Friday to decide whether to create independent health insurance exchanges or partner with the federal government on those private insurance markets.

That deadline has been pushed back a month.

The state exchanges will be designed to serve as marketplaces those without health insurance can access for coverage when a federal mandate, saying everyone has to have that insurance, takes effect in 2014.

Many of those in the exchanges will get help from the federal government when it comes to paying their premiums while others will be directed to expanded Medicaid programs.

Indications are West Virginia will go with the partnership, at least initially, for those exchanges.

At this point, though, the Mountain State is still one of about a dozen that has not yet notified the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a decision.

Federal officials have said the goal is to get the exchanges up and running by October 2013. The individual mandate kicks in on January 1st, 2014.